FLORIDA – In Chile, firefighters and security forces are confronting one of the deadliest fire outbreaks in recent history, which has claimed the lives of at least 21 people and devastated vast expanses of forest. Their efforts are being hindered by threats ranging from attempted attacks to the potential risk of drone collisions.

The fires, among the most catastrophic the nation has faced in recent times, have obliterated 45,700 hectares (176 square miles) of forest and several towns, as reported by the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) on Thursday.

This devastation has already eclipsed the scale of the 2024 Valparaíso and Viña del Mar fires, which had consumed over 8,500 hectares (33 square miles) and resulted in 131 fatalities.

Hundreds of residents have been forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters amidst the chaos, with the fires leaving vehicles scorched, animals charred, and 2,359 homes in ruins. As of Thursday, the official death toll had reached 21, with 305 individuals reported injured.

Authorities anticipate that both the casualty figures and the damage assessment may increase in the coming days.

In the hardest-hit regions, residents are reporting missing persons, adding to the urgency of the situation. While officials began evaluating the damage on Wednesday, they have yet to provide a definitive count of the potential victims.

Skeletal remains recovered by search teams have been sent for forensic analysis to determine if they are human.

“The firefighters and police worked tirelessly. It was the first time I ever saw them both cry,” Pamela Crisostomo, a neighborhood association president in Lirquén, ground zero for the tragedy, told The Associated Press.

“We are going around and handling this form, which allows people to access the benefits and support provided by the State,” said Romina Gutiérrez, a volunteer collecting data from affected families in the region.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who was visiting the Biobío region, decreed national mourning for Thursday and Friday in memory of the 21 people who lost their lives in the disaster.

“Amid the profound sorrow caused by the forest fires in the south-central region of our country, I have decided to decree two days of national mourning,” he said on X.

Countless challenges for firefighters

The fires are not the only challenge facing the nearly 8,500 Chilean firefighters who risk their lives in the flames.

At least two attacks on firefighters have been reported since the emergency began Sunday. In one case, a fire brigade was attacked with gunfire, a Fire Department statement said.

Police were investigating both cases but have not yet made arrests.

President Boric said during his visit that “any aggression against firefighters is absolutely unacceptable” and “deserves the condemnation of the entire society.”

“Those who attack firefighters will be identified and punished to the full extent of the law,” he added.

Another challenge for fire brigades was the presence of civilian drones. The unauthorized flights forced the suspension of operations around the small town of Florida, where the wildfires were out of control.

Authorities did not give details about the drone pilots, but they tend to be journalists or hobbyists attempting to film aerial videos.

The drones can interfere with firefighting aircraft dispatched to drop water or retardant, distracting firefighters or even causing them to crash. As a result, several planes that were rushing to slow the flames had to pause their work.

The National Forestry Corporation said using drones during firefighting is prohibited. “The use of unmanned aircraft can endanger the lives of helicopter and airplane pilots working to control these fires,” the statement said.

In addition to assaults and the intrusion of onlookers, firefighters are facing threats from people setting fires: At least 70 people in this fire season so far have already been arrested for causing a fire or attempting to do so, according to Boric.

Chilean Investigative Police arrested a person Thursday who was accused of starting a small fire in Punta de Parra, adjacent to Lirquén and another small town that was reduced to ashes.

“Residents of the Punta de Parra area were alerted that there was a group of people with some materials with the intention of starting fires,” explained Claudia Chamorro, head of the Biobío police region, at a press conference.

International reinforcements on the way

Despite the challenges, support was on its way. Mexico, the United States, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina were among countries that have joined the effort.

A total of 145 firefighters from Mexico landed at the airport in Concepción, the capital of the Biobío Region, on Thursday morning. For the next days, they will be working side-by-side with Chilean firefighters among the dozens of fires that remain active.

Air support is also expected to arrive from Uruguay, whose government provided around 30 professionals and a Uruguayan air force plane to help. The U.S. Embassy has also made contributions, “specifically with firefighting equipment, which was delivered directly to the Chilean Fire Department,” Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren said at a press conference.

Van Klaveren added that Chile’s government is also in talks with “United Nations agencies to explore further possibilities for assistance,” as well as with the European Union through its humanitarian aid agency.

“We are not only thinking about fighting the fires, but also about reconstruction efforts,” he remarked.